296 [Assembly 



can gather evidence from actual experiments to prove the fallacy of 

 such opinions, and to fortify and confirm our views in the prosecu- 

 tion of an agricultural enterprise, new to our country. 



All the experiments that have been made are of recent origin; if 

 all have failed we must admit the evidence is against us, and our 

 prospect of success too circumscribed to justify another experiment. 

 But if, on the contrary, no experiment has failed, but all have suc- 

 ceeded, then we have a demonstration in our favor which supercedes 

 the idea of its being a mere theoretic speculation, throws all doubt 

 to the winds, and places the hope of the husbandman upon a basis 

 which cannot be shaken. 



1st. The Dutch made the first movement to break the charm of 

 Chinese monopoly, by introducing and cultivating the Tea Plant, in 

 their rich and fruitful colony of Java. That Island lies between the 

 6th and 8th degree of South Latitude. They succeeded in the cul- 

 tivation. The mountain range which runs through the centre of 

 the Island, is the most productive, because the Tea Gardens, extend- 

 ing from near the base, high up the mountains, reach an atmosphere 

 tempered by elevation. The plant escapes the scorching heats of 

 the torrid zone, and finds a climate by height, rather than by lati- 

 tude, adapted to its nature. But the plant is not confined to lofty 

 ridges. In the plains, the hedges, and fences if one may so call 

 them, are all planted with the Tea shrub, which flourishes in greater 

 or less perfection throughout the Island. But, as has been already 

 intimated, the equatorial latitudes are not the most auspicious for 

 the vigorous growth of a plant that requires a temperature, equally 

 removed from the extremes of heat and cold, and the quality of the 

 Tea is as much affected by the climate as the growth of the plant. 

 Considerable quantity of Tea is annually shipped from Java to 

 Europe, but the extension of the cultivation is no doubt checked by 

 the exceeding fertility of the soil, and its adaptation to the growth 

 of the rich products of tropical regions. 



2d. The Tea plant was introduced into Brazil about 1817, when 

 the Royal House of Braganza emigrated from Portugal to that Colo- 

 ny. The plantations lie between the equator and 10° Soutti Lati- 

 tude, nearly parallel with Java, and of course are exposed to the 

 same intemperate climate, and suffer in a similar manner. In addi- 

 tion to these physical disabilities, the enterprise has had to contend 

 with the natural indolence of the natives, the universal repugnance 

 to labor, the crushing effect of committing so important a work to 



